Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The point was made that the loophole in the legislation should be closed off. If a Member of the House receives a part of a property or land from a relation in future, will he or she be able to accept it? The amendment will create a mechanism to check that. It is a good idea. I would not like to see the House turn into the greatest purist in the world, which it is fast becoming. We would lose good Members because of that kind of view. I have watched the House change dramatically over the years. If one needs to check something — from my own experience with checking, when in doubt, the answer is always "No" — it is better to have a vehicle through which to do that. This loophole has been pointed out by commentators inside and outside the House.

I have read in newspapers that the Standards in Public Office Commission believes it should be able to investigate a matter without a complaint being made. From my experience as Taoiseach, there is no end of people who are prepared to write anonymously or otherwise and say things about Members. I could have collected a book of them in the last month, but I shredded all of the comments because I do not believe in that kind of politics. I have not noticed any problem regarding people in the public or the media not complaining about Members of the House. From my experience, the opposite is the case. If there is a coherent argument that the Standards in Public Office Commission has difficulty getting people to complain about Members, I will listen to it, but it is not the problem from where I sit.

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